Backatcha レコード& CD

Review: Brit-funk group Cloud made a big impact back in the 80s. They were part of an exciting and emerging scene that fused funk, soul, jazz and more and their catalogue continues to get plenty of attention even now, decades on. Backatcha last served up their Visions EP back in February and now they look to their This Is Your Woman 12" which opens with the title track complete with its brilliant female vocals and low-key funky disco beats. There is also the high-speed and super cool grooves of 'I'll Never Give You Up' which fans of Freez will love, then a couple of dubs and instrumentals on the flip.

Review: Backatcha is on a superb run of releases right now with top tunes from Leonie and Learoy Green dropping around the same time as this stepping street soul gem from En to End. This is primo boogie from the late 80s now landing on 45rpm for the very first time. It's been taken from the tape archives of London singer-producer Tony Shand and kicks off with the vocal version of 'Nothing's Happening'. His rather deadpan vocal has an aloof kind of allure next to the squelchy bass and glowing keys. The instrumental strips it away to allow the retro production to shine.

Review: The Backatcha label has been busy turning out the jams recently and this 82nd EP is another one that will get you up on your feet in no time. Style X was at the helm of the original tune here but now two edit and remix masters get their hands on it and head into all new realms. First up is Sean P with The Second Line Jazz Funk Excursion remix which is all overdubbed horns and hurried disco rhythms, cosmic synths and loose percussion that make you move. Then it is the Ge-ology Truth To The Light remix that brings driving, deep and dubbed out disco goodness with majestic horns.

Review: Here's something to get the pulse racing: a killer collection of obscure, hard-to-find and sought-after soul tracks from the 1970s and early '80s, all from the catalogues of independent, often little-known record labels. Sometimes rarity can be misleading - scarcity is no guarantee of quality - but everything here is genuinely extremely good. For proof, check out the spaced-out, otherworldly instrumental bliss of Nassauvians' 'Slacking Off', the chunky, country-style soul brilliance of Norfolk Sound by Ray T Jones, the Terry Callier style folk-soul of No ID/Bilal Sabir's 'Changes', and the alternate mix of Nature Soul's sunshine soul gem 'Never Get a Chance' - one of two previously unreleased versions on the compilation. In a word: essential.